Introducing AIBU voting

[TomMumsnet]

Hi all,

We're testing out a new feature on AIBU. From today, a few randomly selected Mumsnet users will be able to access a voting function on AIBU posts.

We're testing the vote function because in user feedback lots of you asked for a quick way to answer an AIBU post (essentially; YABU or YANBU).
The general thinking was that this would encourage more interaction - so we're trying it out from today, let's see how it goes.

It won't show on all AIBU posts but you should see it on a few - and importantly, the OP will be able to turn on (or off) the voting function themselves.

Hopefully you'll find it useful - and as ever, we'd love to hear your feedback - so please give it a try, and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Oh, and if you really aren't a fan then no problem, just head over to your Talk preferences and you'll be able to switch off (and back on) the voting feature.

Thanks
MNHQ

mabelsgarden "It's really not"

Ok, how is it different to a like/dislike button?

I donmt mind this purely because the OP has the option to turn it off as well as the reader. Otherwise I'd hate it to be forced on people. If it's a sensitive OP then they can switch it off.

No to a like button though! Ugh, popularity contest... great for peoples self esteem.

"Does anyone really believe AIBU is beneficial to people's mental health in the first place?"

No, so that's definitely a good reason not to make it worse.

It's got to be better than quoting a previous post and saying

This^^

Which is the equivalent of a like button anyway.

Which is exactly the same as like/dislike or up/down voting whatever you wish to call it.

It's really not.

It really is.

I am guessing you have not been given the ability to do it?

To do what? You're wrong anyway. I have no wish to set up an AIBU post with voting on it and everyone can vote. I turned it off though because it's shit.

It's quite rare for just the ^^this post

Because a characteristic of the site is for people to 'talk' considerably more.

I think it would be a great shame for that to be changed.

I haven't seen any threads in Site Issues asking for this feature to be introduced. There's no sign it is by popular demand.

I'd love to see it on the webchat this afternoon

A couple of questions @TomsMumsnet:

Firstly, why are you introducing this without talking to us all about it in the first place? I ask this because you did consult on various boards being withdrawn.

Secondly, is MN struggling in some way? Do you need to increase interaction?

Similar reasons were quoted for removing some of the boards -some of which could be easily removed because they really do have no current relevance, but instead you though things like 'Teens' could be removed.

Thirdly by interaction do you mean 'clicks'? Is it a case of clicks means more cash?

Further to what I said last night, MN can of course, if they wish, choose to throw away any remaining ethical principles they may have about running a site where many people post when in a vulnerable position. But that seems a very sad direction to take when we see more and more the impact that social media does have on people's well-being.

It becomes 'trial by mob' where the mob don't care about the impact on the individual - blaming them for making what they see as a bad decision to post about an issue. It's especially easy to depersonalise impact when we are all faceless usernames. Is this a road you wish to travel down further?

@OhYouBadBadKitten

100% agree with both your posts on this thread.

This 'vote' button seems very akin to a 'like' button which 90% of members disagree with having.

What a boring idea. Just click and go. Why bother?

Of all the things to increase engagement you go with this?

Sounds like the vote down button will be used by bullies to drown out voices and cliquey posters will use it down vote dissenting voices.

This is a massive issue on both Reddit and Facebook, both of which have this feature. How will MN make sure that it doesn't become one here?

I'd be very concerned about two issues; firstly that someone in a vulnerable place will see an absolute storm of downvotes which could be upsetting; and is likely to be far less helpful than people leaving comments explaining why or trying to help, and secondly that it will stifle discussion, and that's one of the reasons I come here. For the different experiences and perceptions.

Why was this rolled out without consultation; unlike the other changes?

Is this actually a case of being able to count more people as "active engaged users", as they've voted, so there appear to be less lurkers? Advertising incentive?

This 'vote' button seems very akin to a 'like' button which 90% of members disagree with having.

But do 90% of today's members disagree with having a like button?

I know it's been unpopular in the past but tbh, I see more and more support for it lately.

AIBU is going to be a bloodbath 😁

Which is what the posters do when they post.

Actually I don’t think most AIBU are posted for a yes/no answer. Very few in fact. Most are posted so people can actually roll the situation around with others and get different perspectives. Some post just for confirmation that they’re right, some post for a rant to get it off their chest. I’d say pretty much all of what is posted on AIBU is posted for feedback with reasons rather than just a yes/no response.

I think it’s a crap idea.

I’d say pretty much all of what is posted on AIBU is posted for feedback with reasons rather than just a yes/no response.

I'd agree with this - so in theory an agree button for this post would work. But actually I want to explain why I agree.

Opening posts in AIBU aren't in isolation, things come to light / need further clarity which happens as thread progress. I would hate for people to think they are being unreasonable just because their opening post seems that way, when in reality they could have missed out information which would change opinions.

For example

AIBU to not want to go to MIL's for dinner, because she doesn't cater for my strict food requirements.

Posters click YABU, thinking the OP is just being precious and picky.

Then a few posts later the OP posts

I went to one last year where she cooked the pasta in a seafood sauce, because she forgot i'm allergic to shellfish.

Now that changes the answers considerably, but posters have already voted and left the thread as they don't feel the need to discuss the post.

I know some will say the OP should have included important information in the first post, but we're all human and sometimes information is left out especially if the poster is posting in a hurry.

I don't like the idea. The discussions evolve and so a simple yay or nay shuts down debate.

IceRebel, I found out last night you can change your vote.

You're right though, I expect some people won't return to the thread for any updates and change their vote accordingly.

Sometimes the all too common omission of a DC's age from an opening post, can change opinion a lot when posters eventually find it out.

”Perhaps a third option of “this isn’t an AIBU”.

Anything to get rid of the annoying ‘posting for traffic’ stuff that doesn’t belong there.”

Oh yes please. Drives me potty.

Ooh I like this idea, good idea MNHQ!!

I'd rather be able to click against an individual's post to say whether I agree or not, rather than having to type it out and tag the user or quote them (which isn't easy on the app) in fact, I'd like to be able to quote easier.

Well I have it and I like it. I don't think it will stop discussion. People will still want to say what they want to say! I think its a fun little addition.

I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I don't think PP are quite grasping what it is if they think that it gives the ability to downvote into oblivion like on Reddit. If you vote that the OP is BU, that vote is counted but it won't make any difference to the visibility of the posts. It's not a downvote as such, it's a quick way to answer the question "AIBU?".

Also don't quite understand the mental health impacts; is seeing the number of votes more damaging than the inevitable stream of picky, snarky comments that you get when you post on AIBU? I wouldn't have thought so.

However, I'm surprised that MN have put resource into implementing this without checking whether people want it or not. There's plenty of bugs on the site and the app that need attention, and features that are requested over and over again (edit button, quote ability) that would have been way more useful. So maybe people are onto something when they say it's to do with click engagement to help advertising revenue, rather than the "by popular demand" as it's being sold here.

I think it's slightly flawed as a trial. Simply there aren't enough threads that enables voting, so can't really see what really happens.

I really don’t like the way that threads you can vote on are displayed on the thread list. Does the “vote” button really need to be so intrusive?